Treatment for Type Two Diabetes: The Role Of Diet and Exercise

Continued From << Treatment For Type Two Diabetes

Physical activities and exercises should also be included in the daily routine. This does not necessarily mean going to the gym regularly. Increasing the daily activities in one’s daily routine such as walking, skating, swimming, dancing and biking are good practices.

It has been proven that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by diet and exercise; but if these fail, there are many medications (oral in particular) to treat it.  Generally, the pills for diabetes are under the 5 classes of drugs which are alpha-glucosidase, biguanides, meglitinides, sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones. These 5 classes work differently but aim at a single purpose of lowering the glucose levels in blood.

Alpha-glucosidase are drugs which block the starches (e.g. pasta, bread, potatoes) breakdown in the intestine thus they lower the levels of blood glucose. Biguanides on the other hand decrease the glucose production by the liver.

Meglitinides and sulfonylureas increase the release of insulin in the body by stimulating the beta cells of the pancreas. Thiazolidinediones help reduce the production of glucose in the liver and helps insulin work effectively in the fat and muscle.

Commonly, pills are tried before insulin. There are several factors to consider before starting the insulin treatment. It may be best to answer questions such as how high is the blood glucose level, how long is one suffering from diabetes, what other medicines are taken and the questions about the health condition.

Sidebar: The next article in this series is about diabetic neuropathy treatment.

It should be noted that diabetes pills are only to be taken by type 2 diabetes patients. There is no single most effective pill to treat this disease. Also, there are pills that can’t be mixed with alcohol because it can cause sickness, flushes or vomiting.

There are also those having combination therapy where pills are taken in combination; this may be costly but effective for some. One can try combination of pills accompanied by exercise, diet and shots of insulin. The idea with combination therapy is to help insulin work more effectively. A consultation with a physician will always be the safest thing to do.

Prioritizing your body’s well being and health is the very first step to prevent type 2 diabetes. Medications are also available so there is no need to panic. It is a reality that this diabetes can be prevented and getting started the soonest possible time is necessary.